It did not take long for West High senior Sangrielle Harris to realize she wished she had joined AVID sooner. When she enrolled in the college readiness program at the start of her junior year, she was initially hesitant to give it a try.
But today, she calls that decision “life-changing.”
“I decided, ‘you know what? There’s nothing to lose,’” Harris said. “I’m so glad I did it, and I should have done it sooner.”
A lifelong artist, Harris has always been drawn to drawing, animation, photography and painting. She says AVID helped her not only stay organized and prepare for college, but also connect her passion for art to new opportunities and mentors.
Since joining the program, Harris says she has gained confidence, guidance and experiences that helped her grow both academically and creatively. She credits AVID teachers Sean Blythe and Rachel Wood for encouraging her along the way.
“They're both very positive role models and I’m so grateful for them both,” Harris said. “In less than two years they’ve helped me so much and shared so many opportunities.”
One of those opportunities was an internship with MMSD’s Summer Arts Seats program, CueThe608, a youth development program that blends urban arts with professional experience. There, Harris worked alongside a wide range of artists — from poets to dancers — while continuing to develop her own artistic practice.
Her passion for art started early. She remembers drawing stick figures as a child before deciding she wanted to learn how to make them more realistic. That curiosity evolved into years of studying anatomy, portraits and other techniques.
“It definitely takes a lot of practice,” Harris said. “But when you see the progress, it gives you the motivation to continue.”
Looking back, Harris says she wishes she had gotten involved sooner and encourages younger students not to wait to try something new.
After graduation, she plans to take a gap year before attending Edgewood College, where she hopes to study art therapy — combining her love of creativity with her desire to help others.
As she prepares for what is next, Harris hopes other students remember to keep pushing through challenges, even when things feel difficult.
“Whatever is difficult, whatever is hard — that’s not the end of the world,” she said. “Things will continue going, and you’ll get through it no matter what. Don’t be a quitter.”
This content is sourced from
madison.k12.wi.us
. It reflects the author's views and has not been edited by our newsroom. It may have been generated using AI assistance.
